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Resist authoritarian onslaught, says CPI-M
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) The arrests of and raids on houses of human rights activists and Left intellectuals across five states “is an ominous pointer to how swiftly the country is coming under an authoritarian regime”, the CPI-M has said.
On Tuesday, Pune Police arrested Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira.
The house of academic and Dalit intellectual Anand Teltumbde in Goa, Stan Swami in Ranchi and others were searched. From all the houses, laptops, hard discs, mobile phones and other papers were confiscated and taken away.
The Maharashtra police linked these arrests and searches with the holding of the Elgar Parishad and the Bhima-Koregaon violence that took place on January 1 leaving one person dead.
“So far, the police have provided no shred of evidence to sustain these charges. None of the five arrested in the current round have had any role, or, participation in the Bhima-Koregaon rally,” said an editorial in the CPI-M journal “People’s Democracy”.
It said the Maharashtra Police was reluctant to act against the instigators of the violence blamed on rightwing Hindu groups such as Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide. When the first was not arrested, even the Supreme Court questioned why he was not apprehended. After his arrest, Ekbote came out on bail a month later. Bhide has not been arrested at all.
“Instead, the Maharashtra Police has shown great zeal in going after reputed lawyers and social activists like Sudha Bharadwaj and Anand Teltumbde in their desperate quest to manufacture a Maoist plot.
“The brazen manner in which the police and State machinery was used is also a warning to all other political and social activists not to take up the cause of the Dalits, adivasis and other oppressed sections,” the editorial said.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist said more and more, “the authoritarian regime was targeting all sections – the political opposition, human rights activists, academics, lawyers, journalists and writers”.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.